The BSW parliamentary group in the state parliament is calling for a halt to the planned sale of SME AG, including its mining rights in the Ore Mountains, to an Asian investor. "While the federal government is publicly emphasizing that it wants to become more independent of global supply chains and strengthen value creation in its own country, a strategically important raw materials project is effectively being handed over," warns regional policy spokesperson Ulf Lange. Tungsten and tin, which are to be extracted in SME's planned mine in Pöhla, are key raw materials for industry, the energy transition and high technology. "Anyone who is serious about security of supply must not release such projects from national responsibility," explained Lange. A sale to international financial investors would entail the risk of raw materials being primarily exploited according to global market logic - without consideration for regional interests. "In the end, burdens remain locally, while the added value flows away. That is neither economically sensible nor politically viable." SME CEO Rolf Staudenmaier had previously confirmed the sale plans to dpa. According to this, a financial investor from Singapore wants to pay 150 million euros for the company. This still has to be approved by the Federal Ministry of Economics, he said. The Upper Mining Authority had granted SME 2024 permission to build a new mine in Pöhla. In future, 400,000 tons of ore are to be mined there annually, primarily tungsten and tin. Copyright 2026, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
